Polson softball trumps defending champs

POLSON - In its first game of the season, the Polson softball team soundly beat defending Class A champions Frenchtown soundly.

The 10-3 game featured freshman Shay Duford on the mound in her varsity debut.

"It's just one game," head coach Larry Smith said. "It's the first step on the ladder of success."

Smith said he didn't sense any nerves from the newcomer on the mound. Added confidence and comfort came from Shay's older sister Kayla, a junior, who was the catcher.

"[Shay's] such a competitive person that I don't think it bothered her," he said. "She played during the summer at this level so it wasn't anything new."

After striking out the first batter she faced, Shay went the distance and turned away five total. Frenchtown's three runs came in the fourth inning after the first batter knocked a ground ball off Shay's shin and reached first base safely. It rattled Shay as she walked the next two batters, Smith said, and all three went on to score.

Polson scored at least one run in five innings, not needing to play the last part of the seventh.

At the plate, Smith was happy with how he team performed.

"It was quite awesome," he said.

The Pirates totaled 17 hits stemming from every player.

"Everybody up and down the order hit the ball," Smith said. "We may be young, but they are good athletes."

Sophomores Riley Kenney and Makaliah Wilson each went 3-for-4. Kayla and Wilson each doubled and notched two RBIs a piece.

In the field, Smith said his team "had a couple hiccups," but nothing that can't be worked on.

The Pirates travel to Whitefish tomorrow night and Smith said he expects them to be a challenge but isn't sure as the program dropped its junior varsity team.